Conspiracy Specificity Predicts Spread

Political conspiracy claims fall into two communicative styles: highly specific, colorful micro‑narratives that circulate among influencer networks, and broad, institutionally voiced allegations that deploy stigma and historical frames. Those styles differ in plausibility, legal risk, media treatment, and how easily platforms or authorities can intervene. — If specificity predicts how claims spread and how institutions respond, journalists, platforms, and law enforcement should tailor verification, labeling, and investigatory practices to the rhetorical form of the claim, not just its content.